Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Ami

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: Myocardial Infarction

The use of organic nitrates and nitrites in the early days following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) should be accompanied by careful clinical and hemodynamic monitoring to avoid the possibility of systemic hypotension and tachycardia, which can exacerbate myocardial ischemia. In general, oral or long-acting formulations of these drugs should not be used in the early management of AMI because of the difficulty in precisely controlling and rapidly terminating their hemodynamic effects should adverse reactions occur. Sublingual and other immediate-onset nitrates or nitrites should typically be avoided in suspected AMI with marked bradycardia or tachycardia, and should be used with extreme caution, if at all, in patients with right ventricular or inferior wall infarction. Rarely, sublingual nitroglycerin has produced hypotension accompanied by paradoxical bradycardia in patients with AMI and especially right ventricular infarction. The latter group of patients are also particularly dependent on adequate right ventricular preload to maintain cardiac output and can experience profound hypotension with nitrate or nitrite administration due to reduction of right ventricular preload.

Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Hemodialysis

Severe Potential Hazard, High plausibility

Applies to: hemodialysis

The combined effect of organic nitrates or nitrites with hemodialysis, which often lowers blood pressure, can cause life-threatening hypotension. Therapy with these agents should be administered cautiously in patients requiring hemodialysis. The medication should be withheld before undergoing dialysis, and hemodynamic stability should be established prior to resumption of medication following dialysis. Nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate are moderately dialyzed.

Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Intracranial Pressure

Organic nitrates and nitrites can increase cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Therapy with these agents should be administered cautiously, if at all, in patients with or at risk for intracranial hypertension, including those with cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial lesions, or recent head trauma.

Nitroglycerin (Iv) (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Pericarditis

The use of intravenous nitroglycerin is contraindicated in patients with constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, or restrictive cardiomyopathy. In these patients, cardiac output is dependent upon venous return, which can be reduced by nitroglycerin due to venous pooling. Also, nitroglycerin-induced hypotension may lead to paradoxical bradycardia and increased angina pectoris.

References

Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Anemia

Moderate Potential Hazard, Moderate plausibility

Applies to: Anemia

Some manufacturers and medical references consider the use of nitrates and nitrites to be contraindicated in patients with severe anemia. Nitrates and nitrites can cause methemoglobinemia, primarily in high-dose intravenous therapy or acute poisoning and in patients with NADH reductase deficiency. However, elevations of methemoglobin may also occur with commonly used dosages. While probably not of routine clinical significance, the increases may be important in certain patient populations such as those with coronary insufficiency or anemia.

Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Hypotension

Organic nitrates and nitrites may cause severe hypotension, syncope and shock, even with small doses. Hypotension induced by these agents may be accompanied by paradoxical bradycardia and increased angina pectoris. Therapy with nitrates and nitrites should be administered cautiously in patients who are volume-depleted or hypotensive (e.g., systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg) or who, because of inadequate circulation to the brain or to other vital organs, would be unusually compromised by undue hypotension. Patients should be in a sitting or recumbent position during and immediately after drug administration.

Nitrates/Nitrites (Includes NitroMist) ↔ Glaucoma

Minor Potential Hazard, Low plausibility

Applies to: Glaucoma/Intraocular Hypertension

Some medical references state that organic nitrates and nitrites may increase intraocular pressure and should be used with caution in patients with glaucoma. However, the effect on intraocular pressure is variable and brief, and there is no evidence that these drugs precipitate narrow-angle glaucoma. Amyl nitrate typically may cause a slight rise of 3+ mm for several seconds followed by a fall in intraocular pressure for 10 to 20 minutes, the latter secondary to a fall in blood pressure. Nitroglycerin rarely produces ocular side effects, and oral nitroglycerin appears to have few to no significant ocular side effects.

Do not stop taking any medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

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